Culture and Context - Essay Example

Culture and Context An attempt to analyze the socio-cultural and philosophical dis of the Western civilization would clearly show that religion has always played one of the most primary and crucial parts in orienting opinion of people towards their respective culture, social and intellectual perception. A critical evaluation of Christianity, which has always remained, perhaps, the strongest religious discipline within the domain of Western socio-cultural purview, would show that gradually it has shirked from its actual goal of human welfare and with its typical institutionalized approach attempted to control the spontaneity of human emotion. In order to attain a stronger hold over social aspects and different dimensions of human life, Christianity collaborated with monarchy and established itself as a supreme force in the Western socio-cultural discourse. Prior to the intellectual and cultural revolution during the 18th and 19th century, for a long period of time such religious oppression continued that exaggerated considerable effect on socio-cultural trends of the Western society, leading to an oppressive existence. The process of intellectual and philosophical advancement, which is also known as 18th century enlightenment, was actually aimed at various types of socio-religious oppressions. Intellectual revolution of the 18th century, which is also known as enlightenment, is considered responsible for several socio-cultural dynamism, such as, French Revolution, neoclassical approach to various departments of art, scientific advancement and its implementation, evolvement of realism and totalitarian approach (Schmidt 1). Conjoint effect of these aspects provided common people of this time with an opportunity to interpret their life and surrounding from an entirely different perspective compared to the earlier times. People realized the importance of observing life going beyond the traditional realm of religious and orthodox approach. Traditional social norms, which were constructed greatly through religious orthodoxy, were evaluated logically and relevance of “intellectual inspiration” (Schmidt 1) has been provided with a higher importance rather than blind following of traditional social outlook. While elaborating the actual meaning of enlightenment, which has been used during intellectual movement of 18th and 19th century, James Schmidt has opined that enlightenment is a complete social process and intellectual advancement of a particular part of the society does not go in accordance with the term. Thus, in his discussion he has provided clear evidence to the fact that intellectual movement during the 18th and 19th century can be regarded as perfect example of enlightenment as it includes the mass. Inclination of common people towards reasoned analysis, harmonious combination of reason and faith and intellectual discourse during these two centuries clearly provides evidence in support of the observation that intellectual advancement was not centered around any particular section of people but the entire society spontaneously participated in the process (Schmidt 2-11). People from every section of the society realized that time has come to deconstruct the established institutional norms and create an altogether new observation towards life for constructive advancement, “The eighteenth century witnessed the final flowering of the reforming efforts of the Counter-Reformation, but it also saw deep cracks appear in the façade of the traditional alliance of throne, alter and orthodox belief. These rifts have often been explained by the development of an intellectual movement, the Enlightenment, which displayed hostility both to the institutional church and even to the practices of traditional Christianity” (Callahan and Higgs 1). One of the important features of the 18th century enlightenment is its pervasiveness and its capacity to encompass different societies within its scope. Explicit signs of the intellectual revolution commenced from different parts of Europe and nations like, France, Germany, England and Spain took leading parts in heightening effect of the intellectual movement to its culmination. Scholars and historians widely consider that apart from different types of institutional oppressions, the massive philosophical advancement during that era also played an important part in providing the process of enlightenment a sold foundation. In this context, contribution of French philosophers demands highest attention. In the book, Western Civilization: Since 1500, author Jackson J. Spielvogel has documented history of evolution in the cotemporary Europe both in the fields of social, moral and political philosophy. These philosophers were key figures that encouraged common people to strive for a better future and harmonious social existence. However, respective disciplines of these philosophers though were aimed at solving social, political and religious problems of common people, but those also differed considerably from one another. Despite such conflicting situation, there were certain figures, whose approaches were provided with highest attention, such as, Montesquieu, Diderot and Voltaire. Montesquieu is considered as a pioneer in the field of contemporary political philosophy. In this political treatise, Montesquieu clearly raised his voice against all sorts of political arbitrariness that are aimed at violating rights of common people. He also asserted that the issues of natural benevolence was entirely absent among government in the context of public welfare. Thus, he laid highest stress in principles of natural justice and separation of power. Voltaire, on the other hand, through his literary creations started pointing out prevailing social vices and through his satire he criticized all sorts of oppressions against freedom of thought, “religious tolerance” and “royal absolutism” (Spielvogel 515). Diderot entirely aimed his writing and philosophical analysis against religious orthodoxy, especially Christianity. In his writings he has suggested Christianity as “fanatical and unreasonable” (Spielvogel 515). As he became mature both physically and intellectually his criticism against Christian religious discipline became so violent that he even went to the extent of portraying it most atrocious as well as highest of absurdity (Spielvogel 515). The Encyclopedia is Diderot’s greatest contribution to the era of enlightenment through which he attempted to change the general method of stereotypical thinking. At the same time he also excited the traditional social approach to judge everything on the basis of logical acceptability. Drastic transformation in social, political and cultural outlook, as introduced by these three philosophers to a great extent changed common people’s perception of their society, institutional oppression and system of governance. Thus, a spontaneous attempt to violent traditional social norms was becoming explicit in behaviorist approach of the mass. Art and its various forms are traditionally considered as realistic document of social transformation. Thus, in every disciplines of artistic study indication of these changes were becoming poignant, stating from literature, music, painting, sculpture and architecture. Though all the other forms of art carried the evidences of intellectual enlightenment to a considerable extent, however the best reflection can be observed in architecture, sculptures and paintings. The socio-cultural enlightenment offered the people of Western society with sudden development musical scenario. Opera, concerto and symphony were newest inventions in this particular segment of culture. Novel and other experimental genres of literature overwhelmed admirers of this artistic discipline, and the 18th century High Culture (Spielvogel 526) provided the cotemporary society with a very refined and elegant sort of lifestyle. Keeping in mind all these developments, however, it must be admitted that architecture of the 18th and 19th century evolved as greatest carrier of intellectual enlightenment during this era. Compared to the earlier styles of architecture, where most of the artists used to focus on Baroque and Neoclassical style, a new form of architecture evolved. It is known as Rococo and became extremely popular among artists in these two centuries, “Although the Baroque and Neoclassical styles that had dominated the seventeenth century continued in the eighteenth century, by the 1730s a new style known as Rococo has begun to affect decoration and architecture all over the Europe” (Spielvogel 522). It becomes clearly evident from such observation that essence of enlightenment drastically impacted the very existence of people in the contemporary society. Consequently, they looked forward to leave behind all the conventional as well as existing styles of artistry and decoration. At the same time they also aspired to apply the novel forms of architecture to such an extent so that it exists at every level of their daily existence. During the 18th century existing architectural forms shifted from Baroque tradition to Rococo and dynamism of almost equal magnitude was also observed in every field of art. The process of enlightenment, which commenced during the 18th century, reached its culmination through art and its expression during the 19th century. Evolution of different artistic philosophies such as, Romanticism, Realism, Expressionism, Cubism, provide clear evidence in support of such observation. Cultural evolution of the 18th century liberated human souls from all sorts for oppressions and artistic medium emerged as the primary avenue to celebrate such freedom. Artists of the age perceived life and all the aspects of life from different dimensions as well as perspectives. It is interesting to see that each of these perspectives received equal importance and provided with an opportunity to flourish to the optimum extent. Prior to the mid 19th century, artistic scenario of Europe was dominated by Romanticism. Believers of this discipline used to possess an idealistic approach towards the world and the affairs that are happening around them. During the mid 19th century another form of artistic ideology, Realism, became highly popular. Supporters of this artistic discipline encouraged artists “to depict the world around them and to choose more relevant, modern subjects” (Buser 411). Realism emerged as one of the most poignant source of inspiration for more experimental artistic creations and helped in the germination of artistic genres like, impressionism, expressionism and cubism. The expressionists are of opinion that art can emerge as an effective medium for expressing human emotions (Buser 428). Cubism provided expressionist ideology with a more pragmatic and realistic form of artistic outlet. Invented by the eminent painter Pablo Picasso during the Great War I, this artistic discipline represents, “the specific narrative elements of the painting” as eliminated “from everything but the title. In keeping with the harshness of the subject, the figures twist so violently that their forms become geometric shapes …” (Buser 430). Thus, it becomes clear from the entire discussion that intellectual enlightenment of the 18th century helped in giving birth to numerous other artistic disciplines both in 19th and 20th century and provided a comprehensive picture of human existence for a long period of time. Works Cited Buser, Thomas. Experiencing art around us. Ed:2. Connecticut: Cengage Learning, 2005 Callahan, William James and Higgs, David. Church and society in Catholic Europe of the eighteenth century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1979 Schmidt, James. What is Enlightenment?: eighteenth-century answers and twentieth-century questions. California: University of California Press, 1996 Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization: Since 1500. Ed: 7. Connecticut: Cengage Learning, 2008 Read More